European Parliament: Visit to Lisbon Conference by Socialist Members

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made representations concerning the use of public money to finance the visit by socialist Members of the European Parliament to Lisbon for a socialist conference.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No. The visit by the Party of European Socialists to Lisbon is a matter for the relevant European Parliament authorities.

EU Legislation

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will set out the number of (a) directives, (b) regulations and (c) other legislative instruments issued by the European Union in each of 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A full list of legislation adopted by the European Union in 1997, 1998 and 1999 is laid out in the Commission's annual General Report on the Activities of the EU for the relevant year.
	Copies of the relevant reports are available in the Library of the House.

EU Legislation

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that European Union legislation is becoming "less, but better"; and, if so, upon what basis.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In recent years progress has been made in reducing the volume and improving the quality of EU law. The Commission's Better Lawmaking Report 1999 highlights the importance it attaches to complying with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. There has been a decrease in the number of proposals for new legislation, from around 60 in 1990 to around 40 in 1998. The number of proposals extant has also fallen, from almost 800 in 1990 to about 500 in 1998. There remains scope for improvement, and the Government will continue to take a leading role in pursuing more effective and proportionate legislation.

Kosovo: Demining

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking with regard to the supply of demining equipment for use by Bactec International in Kosovo.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have approved the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of 18 sets of protective body armour and helmets for use by BACTEC International Ltd, an organisation engaged in humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK).
	These goods are on the Military List. UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 (1998) imposed an arms embargo on the FRY. The only exception to this embargo is that in UNSCR 1244 (1999) which provides that prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN Sanctions Committee of this export and it has raised no objection. The export of the equipment required for demining purposes is not prohibited by the EU arms embargo.

Montenegro

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received from the Podgorica government on easing the sanctions against Montenegro.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Most EU sanctions in place against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia include exemptions in relation to Montenegro. We have not received any representations from the Djukanovic government on making further exemptions for Montenegro.

Montenegro

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will press the North Atlantic Council to task the NATO military command formally to prepare contingency plans in case of escalation of the crisis in Montenegro.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The international community, including NATO, is keeping a close eye on developments in Montenegro. It would not be appropriate to comment on specific contingency planning.

Montenegro

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are considering following Germany's lead in providing investment guarantees for companies prepared to invest in Montenegro.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Our bilateral programme provides assistance in agreed priority sectors. We do not provide investment guarantees. We are supporting the growth of the private sector by providing advice on the privatisation of state-owned enterprises.

Montenegro

Baroness Rawlings: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What bilateral support they have provided to Montenegro to advance stabilisation of the republic.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK has been providing technical assistance to the Montenegrins in the fields of public administration reform and privatisation and DfID has given grants to a number of NGOs to carry out humanitarian work in Montenegro. The UK has recently funded two media projects in Montenegro carried out by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), at a total of £40,000. The UK has also contributed £50,000 towards the establishment of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) office in Podgorica. The UK has also been carrying out an Independent Media and Civil Society Programme in Serbia and Montenegro which has provided £528,161 in assistance to Montenegrin organisations.

Balkan Stabilisation: Discussions with Russia

Baroness Rawlings: asked her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the Russian Government on Russian involvement towards stabilisation in the Balkans.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have had regular discussions with the Russian authorities on their involvement towards stabilisation in the Balkans, most recently during the visit to London by Acting President Putin on 17 April.

UK-Ukraine Trade

Lord Hylton: asked her Majesty's Government:
	What were the most recent figures for exports and imports between the United Kingdom and the Ukraine; whether they have forecast figures for the current year; and what were the outcomes of the recent visit to the Ukraine by the Foreign Secretary.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The most recent figures for UK-Ukraine trade are:
	
		£million 
		
			  1999 1998 1997 
			 UK exports 145 168 164 
			 UK imports 48 50 38 
		
	
	Forecast trade figures are not available.
	During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Ukraine on 11/12 April, he met with the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and a range of pro-Government and Opposition parliamentarians. He signed a memorandum of understanding providing for regular dialogue on a number of foreign policy themes between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also announced the establishment of a dialogue between senior advisers in the Prime Minister's office and the Ukrainian Presidential Administration. The Foreign Secretary opened the new British Council building in Kiev, visited the new BBC offices and studio and announced a further UK pledge of £10.6 million to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.
	President Kuchma reconfirmed the Ukrainian intention to close ther remaining nuclear reactor at Chernobyl by the end of the year. The Foreign Secretary raised a number of issues on behalf of UK investors. President Kuchma and Prime Minister Yushchenko expressed a strong desire to see obstacles to further UK investment removed.

International Criminal Court: Ratification of Rome Statute

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to publish the draft of a Bill that will make possible ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The legislation to enable ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court will be published as soon as practicable in the course of this parliamentary Session.

Saudi Arabia: Non-Muslim Religious Rights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the context of their response to the 1st Report of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on the Annual Report on Human Rights of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Cm 4687), whether they consider that non-Muslim religious groups in Saudi Arabia have adequate and reasonable facilities for worship and church life; and, if not, what they propose to do to improve the situation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Islam is the official religion of Saudi Arabia and the overt practices of other faiths is not officially permitted. There are no public places of worship for non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia. But Prince Sultan, Second Deputy Prime Minister, has publicly said that "Believers in God are free to practise their religious rights in their homes". In practice, therefore, discreet non-Muslim worship by foreigners is allowed in private.

EU: Bilateral Relationship with Austria and Other Countries

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 April (WA 89), whether they will implement measures similar to those which limit their political relationship with Austria against any country whose leader or leaders have expressed sympathy, support or understanding for the national socialist or communist regimes in the former Soviet Union, in China or in Cuba; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As circumstances vary, our relations with other governments are handled on a case-by-case basis. We shall continue to apply the principles which I spelled out in my previous Answer on 18 April 2000 (WA 89) to the noble Lord.

EU: Bilateral Relationship with Austria and Other Countries

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 April (WA 89), what are the considerations which lead them to describe Mr Haider's party in Austria as "far Right".

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have been led to describe the Freedom Party in Austria as "far Right" in consideration of past statements by prominent members of the party making light of the Nazi record and, for example, the tendency towards xenophobia in its election campaigns.

EU: Bilateral Relationship with Austria and Other Countries

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 April (WA 89), why they are developing and improving bilateral relations with the Russian Federation and its President Elect, Mr Putin, in the face of their action in Chechnya, while at the same time limiting their bilateral political relationship with Austria, which adheres to the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and has recently re-affirmed its adherence to the treaties and principles of the European Union.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We seek to encourage respect for democracy and human rights in both Russia and Austria. The measures on Austria were a signal of our concern over the inclusion of a far-Right party in the government of an EU member state. We consider that the best way of influencing Russia towards more acceptable policies, including in Chechnya, is by developing a dialogue which allows us to be critical when we disagree. The EU has also signalled its concerns over Chechnya by limiting the TACIS aid programme for 2000 for Russia to promoting democracy and strengthening civil society and by co-sponsoring a critical resolution on Chechnya at the UN Commission on Human Rights.

EU: Bilateral Relationship with Austria and Other Countries

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 April (H.L. Deb., col. 703) when Ministers will next meet Ministers from Austria for bilateral discussions of issues of concern.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no plans for any bilateral meetings with Austria while the EU 14 measures are in place.

European Economic Area: UK Membership

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they reconcile Baroness Scotland of Asthal's statement that "We are not members of the EEA" (H.L. Deb., 17 March, col. 1878) with the facts that the United Kingdom was a signatory to the 1992 Oporto agreement which brought the European Economic Area (EEA) into being; that Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Bill assumes the United Kingdom to be a member of the EEA; and that a reduced rate of air passenger duty applies to flights from the United Kingdom to fellow EEA member states.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The noble Lord is correct. Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Bill reflects the fact that the UK (as an EU member state) is indeed a member of the EEA. The reduced rate of air passenger duty does apply to flights from the UK to fellow EEA member states. I apologise for my earlier error.

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

Lord Alderdice: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 October 1999 (WA 22-3), whether they are yet in a position to say why the United Kingdom is not a signatory to the Optional Protocol of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations concerning Acquisition of Nationality.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: FCO research indicates that the UK originally chose not to become a party to the Optional Protocol on the Acquisition of Nationality for two main reasons:
	(i) It was felt that nationality provisions were out of place in a convention dealing with privileges and immunities; and
	(ii) It was considered preferable to rely on the general rules of customary international law in this area.

Passport Agency: Corporate and Business Plans

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the United Kingdom Passport Agency's corporate and business plans.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary published on 5 May the United Kingdom Passport Agency's corporate and business plans and copies have been placed in the Library.

Criminal Records Bureau: Corporate and Business Plans

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the Criminal Records Bureau corporate and business plans.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mr Clarke, published on 5 May the Criminal Records Bureau corporate and business plans for 2000-05, and copies have been placed in the Library.

Firefighters' Conditions of Service

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the report of the inquiry into the machinery for determining firefighters' conditions of service.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I announced in the reply I gave the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, on 12 April (col. WA 51) that my right honourable friend the Home Secretary had received Professor Burchill's recommendations and was consulting upon them. He very much welcomes his proposals for improving the working of the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades and the positive reaction there has been to them. The report of the inquiry was published on 5 May as a command paper and copies have been placed in the Library. He is asking for further comments from interested parties on the detail of the report and its recommendations to reach him by the end of this month.

Treasury Building Refurbishment

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the refurbishment of the Treasury building.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Ministerial approval to plans for the refurbishment of the Treasury building under the private finance initiative was announced by the former Chief Secretary on 27 July 1999, (Official Report, cols. 400-01). Under the terms of the project agreement signed last year, the Treasury's private sector partner, Exchequer Partnership plc (EP), is responsible for a number of risks, including obtaining town planning and listed building consents, and securing the funding to finance the works. Both conditions have now been satisfied and the deal has therefore reached financial close. Work is planned to start on site on 17 July (the date of granting vacant possession of the park end of the building) with completion in August 2002.
	The contract, which is for 37 years and one month from vacant possession, provides for the Treasury to pay an annual payment (the unitary payment) to EP in return for fully serviced accommodation to performance standards specified in advance. The unitary payment has been fixed in real terms at £14.037 million in March 1999 prices and will be uprated annually in line with the retail prices index.

United Kingdom Act of Union: Bicentenary

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their decision not to mark in the year 2001 the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom is consistent with the remarks of the Prime Minister reported in the Belfast Telegraph of 21 May 1998 that "I am proud to speak to you as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I value that Union".

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government fully recognise the historical significance for the United Kingdom of the 1801 Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. While there are no plans at present for any formal commemoration of its 200th anniversary, the event will not pass without comment from the Government since we value Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom. That position is entirely consistent with the views expressed by the Prime Minister at the University of Ulster in Coleraine on 20 May 1998.

Hotel and Catering Employees: Accommodation Offset

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received regarding the rate of accommodation offset for hotel and catering employees.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: We have received a small number of representations in the past year regarding the rate of the accommodation offset for hotel and catering employees which raised concerns about the maximum level of the offset. The Low Pay Commission received similar representations and these were considered for its second report, published in February. It recommended that the offset should be retained at its present rate and its level considered again when the national minimum wage is next reviewed. The Government accepted this recommendation.

Hotel and Catering Employees: Accommodation Offset

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have not increased the maximum £20 weekly offset for accommodation provided to hotel and catering employees.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The maximum amount of £20 is not meant to reflect the commercial value of the accommodation provided but is designed to protect workers from unreasonable accommodation charges.
	The Government agree with the Low Pay Commission's finding in its second report that the present amount of a maximum of £20 per week should be retained and that its level should be considered again when the commission next reports on the national minimum wage in July 2001.

Postage Stamp Themes

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether among the topics considered by the Post Office for special stamp issue in 2001 were (a) the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom; and (b) pondlife.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Stamp Programme is a matter for the Post Office. I refer the noble Lord to the Answers I gave on 27 March (WA 45) and 14 April (WA 70) and to that given by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 19 April (WA 106-7). I am advised that the Post Office received some 2000 suggestions for over 300 subjects, including those mentioned by the noble Lord.

New-variant CJD Tonsil and Appendix Surveys

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the protocols of the new-variant CJD tonsil and appendix surveys currently under way and the data gathered to date.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Data from the tonsil and appendix surveys currently under way will, as they arise, be assessed at meetings of the joint Medical Research Council/Department of Health Steering Group for Studies of Detectable Abnormal Prion Protein. The department will in due course announce interim findings from the steering group's deliberations, and a copy of that announcement will be placed in the Library. Publication of the protocols and the detail of the study findings are matters for the researchers themselves.

BSE: French Ban on Pithing

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are aware of the basis on which AFSSA (the French food safety agency) has banned pithing in slaughterhouses: and whether they will place in the Library of the House their evaluation of the French decision and their reasons for differing from AFSSA's conclusion.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: AFSSA's recommendation that the practice of pithing should be banned in French abattoirs was based on its assessment that pithing presents a risk of contamination of the carcass by both nervous tissue, which AFSSA considered a risk factor for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), and microbiological organisms. It is for the French Government to consider that recommendation and to take such action as they consider necessary.
	On the BSE risk in the United Kingdom, the Government have accepted the advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) that there is no reason to change UK practices of stunning and pithing during slaughter of cattle. In giving that advice, SEAC took into account the measures in place in the UK to protect public health from BSE, notably the prohibition on the sale for human consumption of meat from animals aged over 30 months, as a result of which the number of infected animals at the late stage of the incubation period entering the food chain is now estimated to be very low. There is no rule equivalent to the over-30 month rule in France and it would be quite understandable if a risk assessment carried out in a country without such a rule resulted in different advice. The risk of the introduction of microbiological contamination by pithing rods is small as long as good hygienic practices are followed.

Consultant Merit Awards

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to review the effectiveness of the new system for consultant merit awards and discretionary points for medical and dental consultants and the funding implications.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We reviewed the distinction award scheme in 1997. We implemented changes to the scheme in the 1999 awards round to improve fairness and openness, to achieve greater service focus and to improve the composition of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards Membership. We are now keeping the scheme under review and will publish proposals for consultation in due course.
	We have recently introduced changes to the discretionary points scheme. From April 2000 the ratio of discretionary points available for each eligible consultant has been increased to enable more consultants to benefit from the scheme and three extra points have been added to the existing scale, along with the introduction of two new service-oriented criteria, which should allow greater recognition of local service achievement. As agreed in the negotiations on a new consultant contract, there will be a review of local operation of the current discretionary points scheme.
	Financial implications are always considered alongside any reviews that are undertaken.

Human Rights Act: Welfare of Children in Care

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Human Rights Act 1998 limits the authority of those responsible for the welfare of children placed in their care to restrict the rights of those children to participate in any form of sex when over the age of consent.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The primary duty of the local authority is to safeguard and promote the welfare of a child who is looked after. Section 25 of the Children Act 1989 governs the restriction of liberty of children being looked after by local authorities. The Government do not expect that the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 will limit the ability of local authorities to safeguard the welfare of children and young people in their care. Like any person with parental responsibility, the local authority has no specific right to ban sexual activity over the age of consent but can take proportionate action to control behaviour to protect a young person's welfare.

Milk Banks

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given the benefits of breast milk for premature and sick babies, what plans they have to increase the number and distribution of milk banks throughout the United Kingdom.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I refer my noble friend to the reply I gave her on 13 January at col. WA 134.

Food Origin Labelling

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in light of the decision of the European Farm Council on 18 April that all member states will have to be separately identified over the labelling of beef, they will seek to ensure that these conditions should apply to all meat products.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Origin labelling rules are harmonised at European level. The Government are actively pressing for a review of these rules and of international guidelines to improve the amount and clarity of origin information on food labels. In the meantime, new government guidance issued by my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in February this year, and placed in the Library, makes clear that origin labelling must be clearly worded and unambiguous.

Food Origin Labelling

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the country of origin of meat products will be identified by that country's national flag in order to assist instant recognition by the consumer.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Origin labelling rules are harmonised at European Union level and we are actively pressing for their review to improve the amount and clarity of origin information on food labels. New government guidance was issued by my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in February this year and placed in the Library. It makes clear that origin labelling must be clearly worded and unambiguous. We have no plans to require the use of national flags on food labels.

Farm Attractions: Standards of Practice

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which organisations or authorities inspect farm attractions that are open to the public; and
	What assessment they have made regarding the impact on the operation of farm attractions of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Standards of Modern Zoo Practice published in March; and
	What representations they have received regarding the impact on the operation of farm attractions of the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions' Standards of Modern Zoo Practice published in March; and
	What plans they have to exempt farm attractions from the requirements laid down in the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice published in March and to introduce standards of practice appropriate to farm attractions.

Lord Whitty: Farm attractions open to the public are inspected under the provisions of several pieces of legislation, including those concerned with the health, safety and wellbeing of the visiting public, staff and animals. Organisations carrying out inspections include the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and its agencies, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities.
	Revised Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice came into effect on 3 April 2000. It is too early to assess their impact.
	In response to a Parliamentary Questions from Christopher Gill MP on 18 April (WA 452) my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replied that there were no plans to exempt farm attractions from the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

Zoos Forum

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which bodies were represented on the Zoos Forum and which persons were consulted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in the preparation of Standards of Modern Zoo Practice published in March; and
	Whether minutes were kept of the meetings that were held by the Zoos Forum; and, if so, whether they were made available to those organisations which were not represented on the forum but which had expressed an interest in the issues discussed by the forum.

Lord Whitty: Members of the Zoos Forum were appointed for their knowledge and expertise on zoos, not as representatives of organisations.
	A wide range of organisations with an interest in zoos were consulted on the proposed revised Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.
	Minutes have been taken of all Zoos Forum meetings and will be published on the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions website as soon as possible.

SEAC: Safety of Gelatin and Tallow

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee if, in the light of current research and the actions taken to protect human health with reference to human blood, it still considers it appropriate to allow blood, gelatin and tallow to be fed to calves.

Baroness Hayman: SEAC last looked at the safety of gelatin and tallow in October 1997. The committee concluded that no further measures were necessary. Following its recom- mendations on precautionary measures in relation to human blood in October 1997, it reviewed the use of bovine blood in animal feed in March 1998 and saw no need to go beyond existing controls.
	In February 2000 SEAC considered preliminary evidence suggesting infectivity could be demonstrated in the blood plasma of mice experimentally infected with a mouse adapted BSE agent. The committee noted that the pathogenesis of the disease caused by BSE in mice was different to the pathogenesis of BSE in cattle but more similar to that of TSEs in sheep and humans. Given the difference in the pathogenesis of the disease in cattle and this mouse model, and taking account of the results of bioassays of cattle tissues in both mice and cattle, the committee concluded that there were no implications for the safety of the food chain from these findings. SEAC will continue to review these areas in the light of new scientific evidence.

TSE Researchers Meeting

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the recent meeting of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy researchers in Keele was held in private; who was invited to it; what confidentiality agreements they were required to sign; and whether the minutes of that meeting will now be published.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Hayman: A Joint Funders Workshop on TSE Research in the UK was held in Keele (4-6 April 2000). This comprised a meeting of funded scientists working in the field of TSEs, department/research council officials and five members of SEAC (Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee). Meetings of this type have been held annually by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) for a number of years. The first joint meeting with the participation of other funders was held in 1998. The purpose of these meetings is to inform the funding bodies of the progress being made in the work they are supporting, to share results and encourage collaboration and networking between the scientists. The researchers present were funded by one or more of the following funding bodies: BBSRC, Department of Health, Medical Research Council and MAFF. Two international guest speakers were also invited. This was a closed meeting as interim results were presented, and most of the research work discussed was pre-publication. For this reason, a confidentiality agreement was signed by conference delegates. Written reports covering all sessions of the workshop will be circulated to the funders. However, the proceedings will not be published.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency: Targets

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What targets they have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for 2000-01.

Baroness Hayman: My right honourable friend the Minister has set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency the following performance targets for 2000-01. Efficiency 1. To deliver the efficiency savings in the Efficiency Plan. Service Delivery 2. To achieve 85 per cent of ROAME R&D milestones. 3. To deliver 90 per cent of export tests to published turnaround times. Service Quality 4. (a) To achieve UKAS accreditation for appropriate export testing in Laboratory Testing Department.
	(b) To maintain the current accreditation programme.
	(c) To improve the VLA teamscore under the EFQM Excellence Model. 5. Financial Performance
	To recover the full economic cost (before exceptional items and calculated in accordance with resource accounting principles) of its services. 6. To operate within 95 per cent and 100 per cent of allocations by the MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts.

Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Targets

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What targets they have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 2000-01.

Baroness Hayman: My right honourable friend the Minister has set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate the following performance targets for 2000-01. Safety and Quality 1. To provide high quality scientific assessment work. 2. To provide high quality policy advice to Ministers. 3. To comply with the timetables for entering Suspected Adverse Reactions (SAR) reports set out in the Plan and to report to the Veterinary Products Committee each quarter reviewing trends in SAR reports and identifying areas requiring evaluation. 4. To meet, in full, the requirements of the National Residues Surveillance Plan. Standards of Service 5. To comply with the timetables for handling applications under the centralised, decentralised and UK procedures set out in the Plan. Efficiency 6. To collect data for 2000-01 as the base year that will enable efficiency changes to be calculated in 2001-02. Financial Control 7. To recover from industry and Government the full economic cost (calculated according to resource accounting principles) of its main business activities of:
	licensing and surveillance;
	policy work;
	residue monitoring;
	as a whole, without cross subsidy between these activities. 8. To operate within 95 per cent to 100 per cent of allocations by the MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts. PLAN Suspected Adverse Reactions Surveillance Scheme reports:
	enter human reports onto the database within 2 working days
	enter serious animal reports onto the database within 2 working days
	enter non-serious animal reports onto the database within 10 working days. Centralised Procedures:
	All assessments (including Maximum Residues Limits) to be submitted within timetables agreed with the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. Decentralised Procedures:
	All authorisations to be determined within the regulatory timetables. UK Procedures:
	93 per cent of new marketing authorisations to be determined or referred to the Veterinary Products Committee within 120 clock days; all to be determined within 210 clock days.
	95 per cent of valid variation applications to have first assessment within 70 clock days; all to be determined within 150 clock days.
	95 per cent of valid renewal applications to have first assessment within 85 clock days; all to be determined within 180 clock days.

Pesticide Safety Directorate: Targets

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What targets they have set the Pesticide Safety Directorate for 2000-01.

Baroness Hayman: My right honourable friend the Minister set the Pesticide Safety Directorate the following performance targets for 2000-01. Quality of Service 1. To deliver the throughput of applications and processing times set out in the plan. 2. To deliver high quality policy advice to Ministers and respond positively to their policy objectives. 3. To deliver high quality scientific work. 4. To respond positively to the results of the Customer Satisfaction Survey. Efficiency 5. To meet the efficiency indicator targets in the agreed Efficiency Plan. Financial Performance 6. To recover from industry and Government the full economic cost (calculated according to resource accounting principles) of its services 7. To operate within 95 per cent and 100 per cent of allocations by the MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts. PLAN New Substances and Reviews
	
		
			 Application Type Planned receipts Planned completions Processing time (weeks) 
			 New Active Substances: 15 12 6 
			 Sift 13 12 52 
			 Evaluation--full resubmission 7 6 52 
			 Reviews--UK 
			 UK anticholinesterase review programme--full reviews 2 7 -- 
			 Other UK review activity 10 16 -- 
			 Reviews--EC
			 EU rapporteur reviews 
			 Position on Annex 1 decisions 11 10 -- 
			  
			 Total 58 63 90%* 
		
	
	The figures for New Substances and Reviews are based on work in hand and forecasts from Industry and the Commission.
	Technical Secretariat
	
		
			 Application Type Planned receipts Planned completions Processing time (weeks) 
			 Normal 320 350 39 
			 Departmental Normal 10 10 48 
			 Experimental Permit  Departmental 5 5 26 
			 Experimental Permit 5 5 48 
			 Extrapolated  Experimental  Approval 10 10 13 
			 Emergency Off Label 25 25 10 
			 Non-Emergency Off  Label 40 40 32 
			 Fast 220 220 13 
			 Parallel Imports 50 50 10 
			 Administrative Fast 550 550 4 
			 Post Annex 1  Approvals 55 55 -- 
			 Mutual Recognition 5 5 26 
			 Other 5 30 -- 
			  
			 Total 1,300 1,355 -- 
			  
			 Total of Tables 1 & 2 1,358 1,418 90%* 
		
	
	* Overall targets--90% of applications with a stated processing time must be completed within that time.

Farming and Rural Conservation Agency: Targets

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What targets they have set the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency for 2000-01.

Baroness Hayman: My right honourable friend the Minister has set the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency the following performance targets for 2000-01. Efficiency 1. To deliver a 3 per cent saving compared to 1999-2000. Delivery of Services 2. 92 per cent of work completed to time. 3. 90 per cent of work completed to an "acceptable" or better standard as measured by a structured quality assessment process. 4. Financial Performance To recover from Government Departments and Agencies the full economic cost (calculated according to resource accounting principles) of its services. 5. To operate within 95 per cent and 100 per cent of allocations by the MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Targets

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What targets they have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for 2000-01.

Baroness Hayman: My right honourable friend the Minister has set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science the following performance targets for 2000-01. Delivery of Service 1. To give satisfaction to its customers in the way that outputs are provided taking account of the relevance, timeliness and value for money of outputs and the achievement of ROAME milestones. Quality of Science 2. To make satisfactory progress with the Action Plan resulting from the 1999-2000 Science Audit. Efficiency 3. To achieve the savings forecast in the Efficiency Plan. Financial Performance 4. To recover from Government Departments and Agencies and external customers the full economic costs (calculated according to resource accounting principles) of its services. 5. To operate within 95 per cent and 100 per cent of allocations by the MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts.

Central Science Laboratory: Targets

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What targets they have set the Central Science Laboratory for 2000-01.

Baroness Hayman: My right honourable friend the Minister has set the Central Science Laboratory the following performance targets for 2000-01. 1. Efficiency To deliver the efficiency targets set out in the Business Plan. Quality and Delivery of Science 2. To review the methodology used for assessing customer satisfaction and undertake a survey in spring 2001 based on the review results. 3. To achieve a minimum of 85% of project milestones in MAFF commissioned projects. Financial Performance 4. To recover the full economic costs (calculated according to resource accounting principles) of its services, after allowing for relocation costs. 5. To operate within 95% and 100% of allocations by the MAFF Management Board for running costs, capital and receipts.

Unidroit Convention

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were their detailed reasons for deciding not to subscribe to the 1995 Unidroit Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects; and
	In view of their decision not to subscribe to the 1970 UNESCO and 1995 Unidroit Convention on the illicit traffic of cultural materials, under what alternative international legal framework they might seek to recover British antiquities recently illicitly excavated and illegally exported such as the Icklingam bronzes; and
	What were their detailed reasons for deciding not to ratify the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Trade of Cultural Property; and whether their two years' consideration of this matter has resulted in any alternative proposals to restrict the illicit trade in cultural property.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As Her Majesty's Government announced in another place on 7 February 2000, after a lengthy inter-departmental consultation, we concluded that the UK should not become a signatory to the Unidroit Convention due to the conflicts with our current law. We noted that, in order to implement the convention, changes to our limitation periods and to our personal property law would be required, resulting in a special regime for cultural objects and arguably a less generous position for the original, rightful owners of objects which were later stolen. However, Her Majesty's Government have undertaken to consider the possible options for an alternative legislative approach which would share some of the objectives of the Unidroit Convention.
	Following representations made by the noble Lord, I also said that I was willing to look again at the difficulties of implementing the UNESCO convention and that we would be looking at a range of options which might form the basis of an alternative approach to the convention.

Welsh Assembly: Draft Protocol on Primary Legislation

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made in composing a protocol with the National Assembly for Wales to deal with issues connected with primary legislation.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Assembly has agreed a draft protocol and sent it to the Secretary of State for Wales for consideration by the UK Government. This consideration is currently taking place in the light of the experience of the current parliamentary session.
	The draft protocol was tabled on 26 January and debated in the Assembly on 2 February; a copy is available on the Assembly's website.